North Korea and Russia have marked the 77th anniversary of a bilateral treaty on economic and cultural cooperation, the North's state media reported Wednesday. Russia's acting ambassador to North Korea, Vladimir Topekha, reaffirmed Moscow's commitment to further advancing cooperation with Pyongyang during a banquet held Tuesday in Pyongyang, the North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. North Korea and Russia signed an Economic and Cultural Cooperation Agreement on March 31, 1949, paving the way for Moscow to provide loans and resources to help Pyongyang build a socialist economy. In a speech, Topekha said the Russian people feel "satisfied" with the two countries' strategic partnership, forged between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, which is becoming more cemented and validated against the backdrop of complex international political situations. The KCNA also quoted Topekha as expressing Russia's support for economic development and "autonomous" foreign policies outlined at last month's North Korean ruling party congress, adding that bilateral